Progress!

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

St. Francis de Sales


As I have written earlier I am very happy with my art instructor ~ he's insightful, supportive, and has a wonderful eye. This past week I took the three paintings in this post to class for his advice. Unfortunately, his wife was ill and we had a substitute ~ a wonderful teacher also. She looked at my paintings and declared me a "Renaissance painter." My heart soared. Now I know what I aspire to be! Renaissance art emerged about 1400 in Italy (that's why I feel so drawn to Italy, I'm sure ~ it is by far the most beautiful place I have had the privilege to visit). To me Renaissance art is closely associated with the classical painting done by the late 19th century masters. One of the best sites to visit to learn more about these artists and what is being done to preserve their work is the Art Renewal Center. It is well worth a visit. Anyway, it's nice to have a direction at last ~ one never knows how one comment can change another person's life!

Apples with Pot

Success is that old A B C ~ ability, breaks and courage.

Anonymous

The time had come to put the ring on the pot. I was in my art class and wanted to know the best technique to get a perfect ring drawn. I had all sorts of implements on hand and was anxious to discuss them with my teacher. When he came over and I began to explain all the steps I was going to take he just looked at me and smiled. "Draw it," he said, "just draw it." Then he handed me a white charcoal pencil and started to walk away. Why not, I thought, I can always paint over it. But, lo and behold, it worked! Perhaps success is really more C B A ~ I think courage has to come first.

A Pair of Eggs

Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.

John Ruskin

I have decided to try my hand at some painting with a very limited palette. For this one I used only four different colors ~ black, white, green, and brown. There's still some work to be done with the shadows and molding the eggs and jar but I think its gotten off to a nice start ~ certainly makes cleaning the brushes a lot simpler!

John Ruskin

Sunset Sail

Once a man would spend a week patiently waiting if he missed a stage coach, but now he rages if he misses the first section of a revolving door.

Simeon Strunsky

I fell in love with this picture the minute I saw it. Although a city girl, the feeling of solitude and isolation conveyed here really appealed to me. These colors are way out for me ~ but everyone in my class today loved them. Today was make-up day so I really didn't know anyone. Maybe they were just being nice. Anyway, for now I'm keeping this one vivid. It still has a long way to go but at least today I got the canvas covered.

Apples with Pot

If I try to be like him, who will be like me?

Yiddish proverb

The hardest thing about painting is making the painting one's own. Although my teacher says its fine to copy other people's work (particularly the masters), he strongly advocates setting up one's own still life or finding a particular place and taking your own photograph and working from it. Unfortunately, I tried that. I took a fabulous picture of a courtyard in St. Thomas and decided to paint it several weeks ago. After hours and hours of working on the stone courtyard I carefully placed the painting in the corner of my studio and dug out this photograph I found on Wet Canvas. I can claim no originality here but I am enjoying turning the photo into an oil painting with Carravagio in mind. That doesn't mean I don't like the above quote ~ it just means once in awhile it's okay to copy. There's a lot to be learned from other people's work.

Lion 3

Courage ~ fear that has said its prayers.

Dorothy Bernard

Well, with a little reshaping Leo is starting to look more like a lion and less like a monkey. I reshaped his snout and enlarged his head giving him a whole new profile. Now its just a matter of getting more and more texture in his mane and adding some more detail to the area above his mouth (what is that area called anyway?)

Lion 2

Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his original ideas closer together.

G. C. Lichtenberg

I am used to going back over my paintings many, many times but when it comes to painting fur it's a whole new ball game. I don't know how many layers are on here but to my mind it still needs a lot more. He is starting to look quite fluffy though.

The above quote has nothing to do with this painting but everything to do with this blog. For days I have been going around and around trying to sign on using my user name and changing my password over and over all to no avail. Finally I just went to the blogspot website and signed on through that and it worked! I may not be a genius everyday but every once in awhile the light bulb does go off.

Anyway, back to this painting. I'm still not happy with the background ~ not happy with the shade of green. This week my art classes start again so I will ask my teacher for a little help. The green really makes the yellow in the lion pop but it's just not the right shade.